GRAVE CHARGES

Hokitika Guardian, 20 June 1934, Page 4

GRAVE CHARGES

NATIVE TRUSTEE ASSAILED. COMMISSION AT WELLINGTON. {Per Press Association Oopynvtit-) , WELLINGTON, June 49; ' Submissions on behalf of the West Coast settlement reserves in Taranaki were placed Indore the Native Affairs Commission, to-day, by Mr A. K. North. He stated that the West . tbast Settlement /Reserves (Beneficaries Association was an incorporated body, with a membership of over a thousand. The reserve consisted of an area of 80,926 acres, having a total capital value of £2,130,000. The principal complaint ‘ was that the beneficiaries had not been paid the rent due to them promptly or regularly. No interest had been paid on the delayed payment. It was proposed that statutory provision should he nmdo for payments of vent when received by the Native Trustee, into separate trust accounts; and that definite halfyearly dates shold be .fixed for the. distribution of these rents. Compensation should he paid to beneficiaries for hardship and loss sustained 'hy them through the Unjustifiable delay in payment of the refits. Proper balance sheets should he issued with each grant, such 'balance sheets to contain; all the proper information usually appearing in well-drawn trustee and beneficiaries’ accounts, includI tag full particulars of arrears of rent. It was also suggested' that an inquiry should be made'- into the position regarding all unclaimed ’ 'rents. The grievance dated from-1931 and reached boiling point after Hho July payment, when onlv two-thirds wa s paid over. Mr R. "C. Sim, Native Agent and former ffudfce of 'the Native . ‘Land, j Court, appeared on behalf of be.nefic- | iaries other than those interested 'dn I the West Coast settlement reserves. I Ho submitted that the administration by a Native Trustee had been neither beneficial nor satisfactory. “We say,” he continued: “that, although- the Native Trustee was created to supply beneficiaries found in these reserves, h e has failed, even- worse than thq pub | lie Trustee. Certainly he hasn’t done any better. -It was expected that, wheu a special Native, Trustee was ,Appointed to devote himself sympathetically and . actively to the ,welfare of the Maori, beneficiaries, an jniprovey meat would be shown, but we allege that he has failed in every respect, because the qualities expected of, him were not forthcoming.” h • M r Sim said that, although reserves in the Taranaki district were, owned by Maoris, a considerable portion , of the land had passed away from them, almost entirely. In many cases nothing was left to some, natives, except the right to receive ground . rent. “It , is believed that there , are combinations - of European leaseholders, not only in the case of the Taranaki reserves,,'but; also with the West Coast and Helson reserves, which defeats all attempts'.toi get any adequate ground rent.” • V\ Mr Sim continued: “By ’combination, they can secure extremely IoW rentals. It is not possible to prove this, as a general rule, but in one case |it was actually admitted.'-’ ; ] ;

Mr Justice Smith : Will you bring any definite allegations against the Native Trustee? "•/" v -V-''

Witness: Well, broadly, they, are these : (1) His administration has been a failure. (2) His financial administration also lias failed. (3) He has a lack of officers for rtiaking proper inspections and supervision of the native reserves. • ) Mr Justice Smith: That is your first definite point, so fat. - i : \> VAy/A;-; “The financial position is import--ant, seeing that the Native Trustee has been paid wholly and solely, by tlie Maoris for even the smallest ,detail of office equipment,” Mr Sim said. “He has made a profit amounting in twelve years to £IOO,OOO. Yet, now, be is so pressed for money that, lie cannot pay out the rents when, they come due.” . Mr Sim quoted' a report of twelve years ago in which it was stated that the natives had been sub-letting their lands for several times ' : ' the origihal rental charged, and 1 making in- tills way sometimes over £350 a year. Mr Justice Smith: Do you make-that allegation at the /present time? . v Mr Sim: I do.' . V With regard to the financial position Mr Sun alleged that the Native Trustee had so involved himself in transactions that he had not - ■ now ready money to meet his indebtedness His yearly gross profits bad been as high as £23,000, and had never fallen

below £14,900. The expenses of upkeep of the office had steadily risen from £SOOO in 1932 to £15,000 in 1931. He had made net ■ profits as high as £13,6-00 in a yqar, and as low as £3000; but he had never shown , anything other than a profit. If the administration of the Native Trust Of' fice was not better conducted in, future, it would he to. the advantage of the, beneficiaries if it were taken back by the Public Trust. Mr Sim said that,,the only alternative lie would suggest was that widespread changes, should be made in the office, such as the inclusion of the services of officers of the Native Land Court. The Commissioli adjourned until tomorrow morning.